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Sekhukhune District and in particular the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Municipality are set to benefit from a R548 billion investment expected to be made in Special Economic Zones across the country.
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau made the announcement during an address to investors and stakeholders during a ministerial engagement on the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Special Economic Zone ( FTSEZ) in Steelpoort this week where he revealed that some 141 companies have committed to invest in various Special Economic Zones in South Africa, with a combined investment value of over R548 billion, and will create over 60 000 permanent jobs once operational.
This was announced by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition Parks Tau. He was addressing investors and stakeholders at a ministerial engagement on the Fetakgomo-Tubatse Special Economic Zone (FTSEZ) in Steelpoort.
Tau said SEZs are a proud story of South Africa’s democracy and host no less than 234 private companies with a combined investment value of over R47 billion.
“The Fetakgomo-Tubatse Special Economic Zone (SEZs) is complementing the good South African SEZs story untaken by democratic South Africa. Different SEZs across the country are host to 234 private companies, with a combined investment value of over R47 billion. The SEZs Programme has created 134 478 jobs, of which 32904 are permanent,” said Tau.
The Minister said the success of the SEZs programme has attracted investors who have shown confidence in the initiative in particular, and in the country as a viable investment destination in general.
Tau said in line with enhancing South Africa’s role in deepening industrialisation in the continent as part of the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area, new SEZs such as Nkomazi, Fetakgomo Tubatse and Musina Makhado, which are designated to drive cross border initiatives and mineral processing, have already started with the bulk infrastructure to lay a ground for investments.
In May this year Tau designated Fetakgomo-Tubatse SEZ as an important milestone in the industrial development trajectory of Limpopo and South Africa boasting a R52.6 billion investment pipeline, which is projected to create around 8 000 jobs in the short to medium term and potentially 20 000 jobs over a ten-year period.
“The FTSEZ is strategically located in the Steelpoort industrial hub, and is positioned to support mineral beneficiation, manufacturing, renewable energy and related industrial activities. Few places make the case for beneficiation better than Steelpoort. This zone sits between the Lion and Samancor ferrochrome smelters and is surrounded by some of the country’s major platinum and chrome operations. It has been planned for exactly this purpose: mineral processing, metal fabrication, manufacturing, renewable energy, and the logistics and services that support them,” said Tau.
“Our industrial policy is clear that we must process more of what we mine, and we must manufacture more of what we use. We must also export more of what we manufacture,” he said.
MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism in Limpopo, Dr Tshitereke Matibe spoke on behalf of Premier Phophi Ramathuba and said the provincial government remained steadfastly committed to the development of the FTSEZ as a strategic instrument for industrialisation, investment attraction, job creation and inclusive growth.
“Our provincial government has committed R445 million towards build infrastructure development. This demonstrates our commitment to laying the foundations required to attract investors and support industrial operations. Our vision is to ensure that minerals extracted in Limpopo create greater economic value within our province. We must increasingly move towards processing, manufacturing and producing goods that strengthen domestic supply chains, support industrial competitiveness, and create sustainable employment,” said Matibe.
